‘Sandy’ Huntington Honored at Pine Lake Memorial
By MARIA GRISWOLD
DAVENPORT
On Saturday, September 20, a memorial service was held in honor of Hartwick Professor Emeritus C.W. “Sandy” Huntington. The service took place at the Strawbale House, where Hartwick faculty and alumni dedicated a plaque to Huntington for his leadership in building the Strawbale House and Cob House.
The Strawbale House was constructed by students, volunteers and local builders as part of a course taught by Huntington, titled “Architecture of the Sacred.” This course was a religious studies class offered at Hartwick from 2000-2004, aiming to help students understand the sacred aspects of architecture in other cultures. Construction on the Strawbale House began in 2000, and was completed in 2002. The house was built using straw in order to sustainably insulate the structure.
Huntington was born on February 24, 1949. He grew up in East Lansing, Michigan, and attended Michigan State University. Post-graduation, he traveled to Norway, where his passion for literature and language was born. He found a focus in Buddhist studies, and earned his PhD. Huntington later spent four years in India with his wife, Elizabeth, for part of his graduate training, where he studied Sanskrit, Hindi and Tibetan.
After teaching at Antioch University’s Buddhist Studies in India Program and the University of Michigan and Denison College, Huntington settled at Hartwick College for the remainder of his teaching career. He wrote three books—“The Emptiness of Emptiness,” “Maya” and “What I Don’t Know about Death: Reflections on Buddhism and Mortality.” He and Elizabeth raised two children, Sam and Katie Huntington, in Oneonta. On July 19, 2020, Huntington peacefully passed after a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
Joe Ficano, philanthropy and engagement officer at Hartwick College, began the memorial service with formal remarks on Huntington and the dedication of the Strawbale House. His introduction was followed by comments from Laurel Bongiorno, Hartwick’s vice president for academic affairs and provost.
Ficano invited Elizabeth Huntington to speak about her husband and their life together. She shared her late husband’s experiences and praised his dedication to the students of Hartwick College.
Three of Huntington’s former students were invited to the event, to share stories of their relationships with him and the lasting impact he had on them.
Justin Dimmel, a 2002 Hartwick graduate, spoke first. Dimmel took Huntington’s “Architecture of the Sacred” course and assisted in building the Strawbale House. He explained that the Strawbale and Cobb houses “represent Sandy’s vision of what liberal arts education should look like.”
Each of Huntington’s classes at the college’s Pine Lake campus began with meditation, which he believed brought them closer together.
During his time studying under Huntington, Dimmel was experiencing feelings of grief due to the recent passing of his father. He said Huntington provided a safe haven for him, and made sure that the course was accessible to students who wouldn’t normally have the means to participate.
Sarah Buckley, Class of 2001, took the stage next. Buckley recalled her experiences in Huntington’s classes, and even quipped that after taking one class with him, she decided to major in “Sandy.” Although Buckley ended up becoming a nurse, she shared how the values and traditions she learned from Huntington have helped her care for her patients and have defined innumerable aspects of her life.
Dan Morris, a 1997 Hartwick graduate, spoke about his time working with Huntington and how it led him to work at Pine Lake for several years.
Following the alumni speeches, Wyatt Ambrose, Huntington’s son-in-law and an adjunct professor in music at Hartwick College, played “Ruby My Dear” by Thelonious Monk in honor of his father-in-law.
Nearing the end of the ceremony, Elizabeth Huntington, Bongiorno and Ficano gathered to unveil the bronze dedication plaque, which reads:
“This building is dedicated in memory of Hartwick Professor C.W. (Sandy) Huntington, Jr., who led students and community members in its creation as an enduring expression of the beauty, power, and sacred nature of collaboratively designed and sustainably built spaces. Dedicated on September 20, 2025.”
As the prepared events wrapped up, Ficano invited colleagues, friends and family of Huntington to share stories with the crowd. While this was taking place, Hartwick faculty prepared chai tea for those gathered to enjoy in Huntington’s memory. A table of handmade terracotta cups created by one of the guests was provided, and attendees were encouraged to follow the Tibetan tradition of drinking their chai and then returning the terracotta to the earth.
When the memorial concluded, guests were encouraged to explore the Strawbale House while enjoying snacks and refreshments.
